Discussions are still ongoing between the Gunners and the Hummers with Declan Rice keen on a move at the Emirates.
Reports suggest Arsenal has made an improved bid worth up to £ 105 million for the talismanic midfielder.
READ MORE: Arsenal in with £105m bid for Rice
This fends off Manchester City’s bid with the Gunners now on the verge of landing the player.
If the enormous figure is accepted, It will be a Premier League record fee for a British player.
Arsenal recently surpassed their club record fee in an attempt to meet the seller’s valuation but it was turned down earlier this month.
Manchester City got into the race but subsequently had their formal offer rejected. It was an initial £ 80 million with an extra £10m in add-ons.
Arsenal have now upped their bid to try and secure manager Mikel Arteta’s top summer target.
The West Ham skipper’s contract at West Ham expires in 2024, with an option for a one-year extension
Is Rice good for Arsenal?
Following his Europa Conference League triumph with the Hammers, it looked obvious that he was headed for the exit door.
Rice has made 245 appearances for West Ham since making his debut in 2017. He operates silently in the middle of the park while ensuring his team maintains the lion’s share of possession.
The English star is not clumsy when making challenges and has shown good positional discipline in West London.
With Granit Xhaka’s departure now imminent, Rice looks like the perfect replacement for the Swiss midfield general.
After Arsenal’s meteoric rise that saw them become a pertinent part of the title narrative, Mikel Arteta knows his men can continue with their momentum if they bring in the right reinforcements.
Rice could be the one to make the difference at Arsenal, a team that has often shown promise but has failed to deliver. His leadership qualities will most certainly come in handy.
